"I can't take it anymore, Jacob!"

At the mention of his full name, minus the middle name Thomas, Cameron's brother Jake, took that as one of two things: Either Cameron was mad at him (she was mad alright, but not at him) or very upset. He chose the latter.

Cameron had called Jake one weekday evening, when House was at his worst. She could always rely on her big brother to calm her nerves and ease her fears. But Jake was worried he wouldn't be able to calm the storm brewing inside of his sister. Not when the center of the storm was called House.

"Ally, listen to me, he's not all that bad! During the few weeks that I was a patient, he was a real cool old dude. If you can look past the grumpy exterior....."

Cameron interrupted her brother. "You don't understand, Jacob! I've done nothing but that all this time....we even went out to dinner once a long time ago, and he told me the only reason I had any interest in him wasn't because of love....it was because he was damaged. I told him he was wrong, but he may have been right, he IS damaged....BRAIN damaged, that is!"

Jake managed a chuckle. "So you actually went out with him once? You never told me that!"

"There was nothing to tell, I arranged it", Cameron said matter of factly.

"What?! YOU?! Whoa!" Jake couldn't believe his sister had been so assertive.

"Well, I kinda forced him into it....as a prerequisite for my returning to the hospital", Cameron said meekly.

"You mean you actually quit once?" Jake was astonished.

"Yes, when I realized my emotions were getting in the way of performing my job correctly, and that I didn't have any control over my feelings, I thought it best to resign....I even accepted another position at another hospital. House agreed to my suggestion of a 'dinner date', only because he knew I'd come back if he accepted". Cameron sighed heavily when she was finished talking, thinking of that night, so long ago, yet still fresh in her memory. The sting of his words still hurt too.

Jake was silent for a moment. Suddenly, he had an idea.

"Look, Ally, you want me to talk to him?" he suggested earnestly.

"Are you out of your mind?! That's the last thing I want you to do! House would never let me live it down that I came crying to you about him! Please, whatever you do, don't EVER mention we had this conversation!" Cameron's voice was raised, yet it was cracking.

Jake relented. "Ok, ok! Sheesh! Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not really, I just needed someone to vent to, thanks, Jake".

"So you're going to reassess the situation and stay on at PPTH?"

"I don't know", Cameron sighed wearily again. "I just don't know.....I'm bushed, I'm going to bed, Jake, I'll call you in a few days and let you know what I decided".

Brother and sister said their goodbyes and hung up.

********************************************************************

"I think you should apologize to everyone and start next week off with a clean slate". Cuddy and House were in her office, and Cuddy had just made this suggestion to him.

"Are you nuts? ME? Apologize? I've got a name in this hospital!"

"Yeah, and I know what it is!" Cuddy sneered at him. House had to laugh.

"I mean it, House, the whole team will disperse if you don't get your act together. I don't want this underlying resentment to continue. Is there anything bothering you besides the usual 'I'm a cripple' crapola?" Cuddy watched for House's reply.

"There she goes again! Dr. Joyce Brothers! Fixer upper of those poor lonely hearts! I don't have a relationship, remember? So, there's nothing to get over".

"Exactly, House! Maybe it's because you don't have anyone, that's making you so miserable".

"This conversaton's over", House snapped, as he steadied his cane, and walked out of Cuddy's office without another word.

**********************************************************************

House found himself outside of Cameron's office. She was typing on her laptop and eyeing the screen with a furious pace. 'Wonder if she found the diagnosis?' House thought hopefully, as he continued to watch her for a few moments longer, then popped his head in the doorway. Cameron was so thoroughly engrossed, she didn't see or hear him walk in.

He lightly tapped his cane on top of her desk. Cameron, startled, looked up at House, gasped, and slammed her laptop shut without shutting it off, getting some of her fingers caught before she realized it.

"Owww, damn it!" Cameron exclaimed, as she lifted the top of the computer a bit to retrieve her reddened and swollen fingers.

"Whoa! You obviously were doing something you didn't want me to see, tsk, tsk", House clucked his tongue and wagged a finger at her. On sudden impulse, he reached out for her bruised hand, and inspected it, rubbing a large thumb lightly and tenderly over her fragile, sore fingers. House stared at Cameron for a few moments. She gulped nervously, as she gingerly broke the fingerhold House had on her, and laid her hands on top of her computer, protectively.

"So what is it you don't want me to see? Porn site? Email from a secret admirer? Plotting my death?" House smiled at her sardonically.

"I-I was typing a few thoughts I had from the last meeting", she stammered futilely. House saw right through her. He pushed her hands away from the laptop and opened it. Since she hadn't shut the computer down, the screen was still up, revealing a resume, and cover letter to a hospital in Connecticut.

House quickly scanned the screen and digested this information quickly. He was stunned. Was she really going to leave him? Again? He looked at her, searching her eyes for an explanation. None came by her expression or her words. She looked like a scared rabbit. She swore to herself, at the predicament she was in. Another humiliation scene, and it was her own damned fault! She should have known better than to attempt a resume during working hours! What was she thinking? Or maybe subconsciously, she was thinking....maybe she wanted House to find out?

She smiled at him timidly, unable to say anything, as she removed his hand from the laptop, signed off and closed it down. She put the computer in her briefcase, saw that it was 5:00 p.m. and let out a relieved sigh.

"I-I've got to go", Cameron stammered. But House stood in her way. If she wanted to leave the room, she had to go through him. He stared at her intently, not giving away anything in his facial expression. Cameron was terrified. She didn't know what he was thinking or what he was going to do next!

Surprising her, he limped to the side wordlessly and let her pass. He continued to stand there in her office a long time after she had scurried out.

to be cont'd.